Dear Music Row Business:

The holidays are fast approaching and should be a time for happiness and goodwill. The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Organization, along with Honorary Spokesperson BILLY RAY CYRUS and the TENNESSEE TITANS are asking for your assistance in helping those families that are less fortunate. Toys for Tots of Middle Tennessee is challenging all businesses on Music Row to collect unwrapped, new toys and monetary donations for the 2003 Toys for Tots Campaign.

The Consortium, Billy Ray's management company, has rallied the support of their artists and those of affiliated label partner Broken Bow/C4 Records .... those artists include Sherrie Austin, Tammy Cochran, Joe Diffie, Lila McCann and Craig Morgan. In addition, Cupit Record's Memarie has gotten involved upon hearing about Billy Ray's commitment to Toys For Tots. The response from the Music Row community has already been overwhelming. The CMA (Country Music Association) is providing their facilty for the final collection point/media opportunity location and are also contributing additional promotion to the effort. Sony Music has been the first label to respond to the challenge to participate.

The Tennessee Titans are committed to philanthropic efforts within the community and in the NFL. Therefore, earlier this year, the Titans issued a challenge to the 31 other NFL teams to beat their stadium drive collection numbers this season. The Titans will host their annual Toys for Tots stadium drive on Sunday, Dec. 7th as they take on the Indianapolis Colts and we need your help!

So, we decided to assist in the overall collection with our own TOYS FOR TOTS MUSIC ROW CHALLENGE, in conjunction with the Tennessee Titans NFL Challenge. We are asking Music Row businesses to become involved by collecting toys from November 15th through December 5th. The total collection of toys during the Music Row Challenge will be given to children in need this holiday season as well as count toward the Titans total collection number! (See below for complete details).

We hope you will join us in this worthwhile effort by collecting toys within your business. Together, we can make a difference in the life of a child this holiday!

Sincerely,

Billy Ray Cyrus
Recording artist/Actor

Jeff Diamond, President & COO
Tennessee Titans

TOYS FOR TOTS MUSIC ROW CHALLENGE

How to participate? Your company can set up a drop-box within your office space for employees to bring in a new, unwrapped toy, or you can provide a donation jar for monetary contributions. On December 5th, the total number of toys will be taken, along with names of the contributing Music Row Companies, so that they can compete for bragging rights for collecting the most toys and donations for this event.

What is Toys for Tots? Toys for Tots, one of the nation's flagship charitable causes and the Marine Corps' premier community action program was created by the Marine Corps in 1947. The purpose is to deliver a message of hope to needy children at Christmas. The goal is to inspire youngsters to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders who will have positive impacts on the future of our nation. The means of delivering this message is through a shiny new toy. Over the past 55 years, Marines have collected and distributed over 298,000,000 toys to more than 145,000,000 needy children across the nation.

Who helps in Middle Tennessee? Middle Tennessee is fortunate to have over 125 Reserve Marines in the area. These men and women are working hard during the Holiday season to ensure that not one child will go without a toy. In addition to those hard working individuals, Middle Tennessee is able to have its own local office of non-paid board members. These members work all year around to present Toys for Tots to as many individuals as possible and work to meet the increased needs of the next year.

Please keep in mind that Toys for Tots benefits needy children in our community. Let's rally together to make this year one of the best for Middle Tennessee! There is a child waiting for a new toy and Music Row can make a difference!

If your business would like to make a substantial donation to Toys for Tots, please contact Rob Kohls, president of Middle Tennessee Chapter at 615-485-8973 or email rkohls@bellsouth.net.